Lighting fixture



L. GILMAN July 5, 1949.

Filed Sept. 13, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

Laws i/m mn W W Hi5 ATTORNEY Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE LIGHTING FIXTURE Louis Gilman, Brighton, Mass.

Application September 13, 1947, Serial No. 773,757

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a fluorescent or other lighting fixtureand in particular to the construction of the enclosure or casingsurrounding the light tube or bulb through which light is diffused.Lighting fixtures, besides being ornamental, must diffuse the light in adesired pattern and reduce glare to a minimum. In the present invention,not only are these advantages obtained but the fixture is made fromsheet stock for the most part by a stamping and shaping process wherebythe fixture is put together and assembled economically and quickly.

The fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention isdurable and strong without giving the appearance of being clumsy. Afurther feature of the-construction of the present invention is that thefluorescent lights are shielded on the sides, with the light directeddownward, through a series of louvres running transverse to thefluorescent tubes, the louvres themselves being so constructed withrelation to the side pieces of the fixture that when one lookslongitudinally along the fixture from the end or at an angle, the glareof the naked light is completely eliminated.

The present invention will be more fully described in the specificationset forth below, when taken in connection, with the drawingsillustrating an embodiment of the same, in which Fig. 1 shows thefixture in perspective as viewed from the lower or floor side as thoughthe fixture were suspended or fixed on the ceiling;

Fig. 2 shows a development of a portion of the fixture shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fi 1;

Fig. 4 shows a section taken on the line t-t of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of a detail.

Referring to the drawings, the development shown in Fig. 2 shows thepressed out structure lying in one plane before being formed into itsthree-dimensional shape. This comprises a center member l, whicheventually is bent in position to run longitudinally of the wholefixture or what is the equivalent at right angles to the plane of thepaper. Branching off at an angle to this central member II are louvrebaffles or plates 2, which are attached to the center memher i throughsmall tie strips 3 which act as hinges or pivots for the plates 2, sincethese plates are ultimately positioned at right angles to the paper. Thebaffle plates 2 are pivoted at their other ends by means of thin stripsor tie pieces t to a side element 5 of the fixture. The

side 5 is provided with a series of rows of small louvres 6, 6, 6, etc.,which are pressed outward so as to permit the reflected light from thebulbs or tubes to shine in a general downward direction as when'thefixture is mounted on the ceiling. It will be noted that the side piecesI and 5 of the pressed section shown in Fig. 2 actually form the centralrib and one side wall respectively of the fixture. The baflle plates 2are attached by the connecting strips 3 and 4 respectively, connectingto the side pieces I and 5 as shown in Fig. 2, the strip 3 on one endnear the tops of (iii the baffle plates, and the strip 4 on .the otherend near the bottom of the baille plates. It will also be noted thatthese baflle plates are curved at the end where the strip 4 is attachedas indicated at I and at the other end the baffle plates have a straightsection B and a smaller section forming the rest of the end of thebaille plate. This small section at the end of the baflle plate has ahook-like projection 9 at the upper edge of the plate as viewed in Fig.2 and then a recess extending to the strip 3 where it' connects the sideor center member I to the baffle plate 2. It will also be noted that thecurved end I is not symmetrically positioned with respect to the sidepiece 5 and that the battle plates 2 run at an angle to the sideelements I and 5 which are parallel to each other.

After the element shown in Fig. 2 has been pressed out of a piece ofsheet stock, the baflie plates 2 are twisted or rotated in the directionof the arrow A until they are perpendicular to the plane of the paper.The side I is also turned at an angle of in the direction of the arrowB, and similarly the plate 5 is turned through an angle of 90 in thedirection of the arrow C. After this, the two sides I and 5 are movedlongitudinally in opposite directions until they are brought oppositeone another, in which position the bailles 2 will be positionedsubstantially perpendicular to both side elements. The twisting of thebaffle elements will bring the upper edge ID of the bafile plate in thelowest position as indicated in Fig. 1, and this edge at its outermostend will project beyond the edge II of the side piece 5. The virtue ofthis construction is that the light traveling in the generallongitudinal direction of the fixture is cut 01? and prevents end glarefrom the fixture.

The section just described forms substantially one-half or one side ofthe fixture. Two of these units or elements are united together alongthe center inside strip or piece I by welding or any Other suitablemeans. The short strip section 3 3 extends symmetrically both to theright and left of the strips I, as indicated in Fig. 4, and forms withthe hooked elements 9 a channel-like section for the receipt of afinishing strip l2, which may be of a polished metal or coated metalproviding a finish such as chrome. This strip may run lengthwise of thefixture and be bent up at the end as indicated at l3. At each end of thefixture there is attached a supporting band II, which at the sides onthe curved portions l5 and I6 may be welded to the ends of the sidepieces 5, and at the center may be welded to the finishing strip l3 andthe center element I. This end band is at each extremity is providedwith an inwardly extending rolled hooked end shown as I! and [8 in Fig.3. These hook-like sections or portions attach to the inwardlyprojecting flanges 20 of the end plates IS. The flanges curve similarlyas the band I and thereby fit each other. The

.end pieces i9 may be welded to the rest of the fixture or may simply besupported in place as described or in any other suitable way. Theattachment of the lighting elements may be made in any desired manner asby a bracket or plate spanning the fixture or by attachment to the endplates. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 4 that the slope of theedge 8 of the baiiie plates permits, if desired, the supports for alighting tube, such as a fluorescent tube, to be set low down in thefixture, i. e., near the bailie plate 2.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture comprising an enclosing frame having sidesupporting elements, a plurality of baflle plates arranged parallel toone another between the side supporting elements, and short connectingstrips substantially narrower than the width of the baffle plate at theends of the baiiie plates attaching said plates to said side supportingelements, said supporting elements, baiiie plates, and connecting stripsbeing formed as an integral piece of the same sheet stock, said baiiieplates extending downward beyond the lower edge of the side supportingelements with the ends of the baiile plates having a corner extending atleast at one side beyond the point of connection to said connectingstrip between said bafiie plates and said side supporting elements.

2. A lighting fixture comprising an enclosing frame having sidesupporting elements with longitudinally extending rows of louvres, aplurality of transversely extending baffle plates arranged parallel toone another and substantially perpendicularly to the side supportingelements, and short connecting strips substantially narrower than thewidth of the baflie plates at the ends of the baffle plates attachingsaid plates to said side supporting elements, said baiile platesextending downward beyond the lower edge of the side supporting elementswith the ends of the bafile plates having a corner extending at least atone side beyond the point of connection to said connecting strip betweensaid baiile plates and said side supporting elements.

3. A lighting fixture comprising an enclosing frame having a centrallyextending supporting means and parallel extending side supportingelements, a plurality of transversely extending bailles each having ashort strip substantially narrower than the width of the bafile platesattaching one end thereof to the central supporting means, and a secondshort strip similar in size to said first strip attaching the other endof said baflies to the side supporting elements, each of said shortstrips having at least a 90 twist therein 4 in addition to a bend withrespect to said side supporting elements.

4. A lighting fixture comprising an enclosing frame having a centrallyextending supporting means and parallel extending side supportingelements, a plurality of transversely extending baflies each having ashort strip substantially narrower than the width of the baflle platesattaching one end thereof to the central supporting means, and a secondshort strip similar in size to said first strip attaching the other endof said baflies to the side supporting elements, each of said shortstrips having at least a 90 twist therein in addition to a bend withrespect to said side supporting elements, the short strips On the outerends of the baflles being connected near the top edges and on the innerend of the baflies being connected near the bottom edges thereof, theouter ends of the baflles being curved outwards of the side supportsbeyond their point of attachment to the sides.

5. A lighting fixture comprising an enclosing frame formed of twocentral supporting ribs attached face to face and two side supportingelements one on either side of said central supporting ribs, a pluralityof transversely extending baffles on each side of said centralsupporting ribs, each baffle having a short strip substantially narrowerthan the width of the baflie plates attaching one end thereof to thecentral supporting means and a second short strip similar in size tosaid first strip attaching the other end of said baiiies to the sidesupporting elements.

6. A lighting fixture comprising an enclosing frame formed of twocentral supporting ribs attached face to face and two side supportingelements one on either side'of said central supporting ribs, a pluralityof transversely extending bafiies on each side of said centralsupporting ribs,

each baflle having a short strip substantially narrower than the widthof the baille plates attaching one end thereof to the central supportingmeans and a second short strip similar in size to said first stripattaching the other end of said bailies to the side supporting elements,and a supporting band at the ends of the fixture extending from one ofsaid side supporting elements around to the central supporting ribs andcontinuing to said other side supporting elements and attached at eachsaid side and at said central supporting rib.

7. A lighting fixture comprising an enclosing frame formed of twocentral supporting ribs attached face to face and two side supportingelements one On either side of said central supporting ribs, a pluralityof transversely extending baflles on each side of said centralsupporting ribs, each baille having a short strip substantially narrowerthan the width of the baflie plates attaching one end thereof to thecentral supporting means and a second short strip attaching the otherend of said baifles to the side supporting elements, supporting bands atthe ends of the fixture extending from one of said side supportingelements around to the central supporting ribs and continuing to saidother side supporting elements and attached at each side and at thecentral supporting rib and an end piece interlocking with eachsupporting band.

8. A lighting fixture comprising an enclosing frame formed of twocentral supporting ribs attached face to face and two side supportingelements one on either side of said central supporting ribs, a pluralityof transversely extending baflles on each side of said centralsupporting ribs. each baflie having a short strip' substantiallynarrower than the width of the battle plates attaching one end thereofto the central supporting means and a second short strip attaching theother end of said battles to the side supporting elements, each baflleat the inner end adjacent, the central supporting rib having an inwardlyextending projection at its outside edge and a strip extendinglongitudinally of the fixture resting between and on said projections.

9. A lighting fixture comprising an enclosing frame formed of twocentral supporting ribs attached face to face and two side supportingelements one on either side of said central supporting ribs, a pluralityof transversely extending baffles on each side of said centralsupporting ribs, each baflie having a short strip substantially narrowerthan the width of the hailie plates attaching one end thereof to thecentral supporting nieans and a second short strip attaching the otherend of said baifles to the side supporting elements, said short stripseach having twists of 90

